Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl was one of the 20th century’s most beloved and successful authors of children’s literature, but he was no saint. That his adult fiction was so often gruesome and misanthropic was no surprise. “Daddy was a mean drunk,’’ recalled his daughter Tessa after his death. His first wife, the actress Patricia Neal, once noted, “Success did not mellow my husband. Quite the contrary, it only enforced his conviction that although life was a two-lane street, he had the right of way.’’ One night in 1980, as he lay sleeping, she whispered in his ear that she wished he were dead.

Roald Dahl was one of the 20th century’s most beloved and successful authors of children’s literature, but he was no saint. That his adult fiction was so often gruesome and misanthropic was no surprise. “Daddy was a mean drunk,’’ recalled his daughter Tessa after his death. His first wife, the actress Patricia Neal, once noted, “Success did not mellow my husband. Quite the contrary, it only enforced his conviction that although life was a two-lane street, he had the right of way.’’ One night in 1980, as he lay sleeping, she whispered in his ear that she wished he were dead.

The wry stop-motion delight “Fantastic Mr. Fox’’ feels lovingly fussed over. With its papier-mâché skies, animal characters sporting glued-on tufts of fur, landscapes that seem to be cobbled together from spit and plasticine, it’s a defiantly handmade artifact - a tabletop movie. In other words, it’s like every other Wes Anderson film (“Rushmore,’’ “The Royal Tenenbaums,’’ “The Darjeeling Limited’’), just without the pesky actors. This turns out to be critical.

The wry stop-motion delight “Fantastic Mr. Fox’’ feels lovingly fussed over. With its papier-mâché skies, animal characters sporting glued-on tufts of fur, landscapes that seem to be cobbled together from spit and plasticine, it’s a defiantly handmade artifact - a tabletop movie. In other words, it’s like every other Wes Anderson film (“Rushmore,’’ “The Royal Tenenbaums,’’ “The Darjeeling Limited’’), just without the pesky actors. This turns out to be critical.

"Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" is about a magical toy shop, but it has some of the sadder moments I've seen in a movie all year. Take the scene where the toy shop's sprightly clerk (Natalie Portman) asks the accountant (Jason Bateman), on the premises to assess the shop's worth, if he sees any sparkle in her. He can't. No twinkle either. She should consider the source, and yet he's not entirely wrong. For the first time I can recall, Portman's sparkle is forced. This movie, which Zach Helm wrote and directed, is having the same conversation with us. We're all accountants; Helm lives in...

A musical about a girl with extraordinary powers is hoping to jump the Atlantic. The Royal Shakespeare Company said Tuesday it is planning for its production of Roald Dahl's "Matilda The Musical," to open in New York early 2013. The musical debuted in late 2010 at the company's home in Stratford-upon-Avon and then transferred to London's West End in 2011, where it is still playing. It's based on Dahl's 1988 novel. The musical is written by the playwright Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by the Australian comedian and composer Tim...

There's a Hollywood cast for Britain's Whatsonstage theater awards, with James Earl Jones, Jude Law and Kevin Spacey competing for best actor in a play. Jones is nominated for "Driving Miss Daisy," Law for "Anna Christie" and Spacey for "Richard III," alongside Benedict Cumberbatch for "Frankenstein," James Corden for "One Man, Two Guvnors" and David Tennant for "Much Ado About Nothing. " The prizes, run by theater website whatonstage.com, are decided by public vote. Best actress contenders announced Friday include Vanessa Redgrave for "Driving Miss Daisy" and Kristin...

MATILDA (Encore on Comcast) Danny DeVito succeeds in making a sweetly wild film of Roald Dahl’s book about a little girl with telekinetic powers. She blasts her way past crass parents unaware of her genius (DeVito and Rhea Perlman), not to mention a wicked schoolmistress who suggests an Olympic athlete from hell. Mara Wilson — in the title role — is a big plus, too. (PG; runs through July 22) AN EDUCATION (Comcast Movies: All Movies)

COMEDY Quincy: The Unregular Radio Open Mic Night allows would-be comedians to try new jokes and refine older ones while networking with other comics. Hosted by Riley Matthews and DJ Dan Abraham, this show is a part of the three-step plan to make you a better comic. Show up/go up by order of arrival for a seven-minute slot. Tuesday, 8 p.m. Varsity Club, 33 Independence Ave. No cover charge. 617-786-9053, www.rileymatthews.com. FAMILY Quincy: Family Fun at the Beach day features music, carnival style games, inflatable jumpers, face painting, prize drawings, a sand castle building competition, volleyball...

FANTASTIC MR. FOX (Comcast Movies: All Movies) A dry stop-motion delight. Director Wes Anderson adapts Roald Dahl’s 1970 kids’ book to his usual obsessions (irresponsible dads, confused children). George Clooney voices the hero, raiding henhouses in a midlife crisis. A fairy tale for adults that’s gracious enough to let everyone play along. With the voices of Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, and Bill Murray. (PG; runs through Sept. 24) TY BURR EDGE OF DARKNESS (Comcast Movies: All Movies)

"Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" is about a magical toy shop, but it has some of the sadder moments I've seen in a movie all year. Take the scene where the toy shop's sprightly clerk (Natalie Portman) asks the accountant (Jason Bateman), on the premises to assess the shop's worth, if he sees any sparkle in her. He can't. No twinkle either. She should consider the source, and yet he's not entirely wrong. For the first time I can recall, Portman's sparkle is forced. This movie, which Zach Helm wrote and directed, is having the same conversation with us. We're all accountants; Helm lives in...

BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN ★ ★ ★ ★ (Comcast Movie Collections: New Movies) Sacha Baron Cohen's scathingly hilarious fake documentary sends his alter ego, the sixth most famous reporter in Kazakhstan, across America in search of values. It's "Jackass" with a brain and Mark Twain with male nudity, and it is not for the fainthearted or the irony-impaired. All others: funniest movie of 2006, by a long shot.